Daily Devotional in Revelation 3

Daily Nugget:
John’s warning to churches of his time and the revealing of future church ages continues in this chapter. He concludes by discussing the three remaining churches.

• A church that was spiritually dying, the church at Sardis. They may have had the word “Church” on the sign out front, but they had departed from following God’s commandments.
  
  However, as far as the church had drifted in general, Jesus’ plea to John was that there was still an opportunity for them to repent and hold fast to what they were originally taught (vs. 2-4). There were still a few in the church that were doing right. There was still hope.
  
  All seven of the churches in Rev. 2-3 were actual churches of John’s time. They also represented church ages to come. The church in Sardis was a picture of churches from A. D. 1500 to about A. D. 1750 (1). Although the churches at the time were generally dead, ritualistic, and unbiblical, there were some individuals like those in the Sardis church that did not sway. They were men like Martin Luther and other faithful men of this Reformation Period.
  
• Although many churches of John’s time had drifted away from the doctrines taught by Christ and the Apostles, there was still a church that had some spiritual strength (vs. 8). It was the church of Philadelphia. As the name “Philadelphia” implies, it was a church that was known for brotherly love.
  
  This church pictured the church age between A. D. 1750 and A. D. 1900. It was during this period of time that there were many great revivals throughout the world. It is believed to have been started by George Whitefield’s ministry, and followed by men like John Wesley, Charles G. Finney, and D. L. Moody.
  
  Great doors (vs. 8) were opened and missionaries went into the world giving the Gospel throughout the world. Countries such as Africa, China, India, Japan, and Korea were reached.
  
• The seventh church John warned was the church of the Laodiceans. This was a “luke warm” ministry (vs. 16). They had riches and many things the world had to offer, but they were doing very little for the Lord. God saw them as “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (vs. 17). Their failure to do anything for the Lord disgusted the Father (vs. 16).
  
  Unfortunately, this church pictures the church age we are currently in. Like all church-ages, not all churches are the same. There have always been a remnant doing God’s will and way, but the majority of churches at this time are much like the church of Laodicea.
  
  There is more concern for the social interests of man than the spiritual. Clubs, committees, eloquent speakers, paid musicians, church appearance, and not offending anyone have a higher priority than do the needs of a man’s souls. Preaching “Thus saith the Lord” is rarely heard anymore, and if it were, there would be many offended and those that would desert the church. Physical wealth does not cover up the fact that the majority of churches are not heeding the tugging of the Holy Spirit and in God’s eyes are “… poor, and blind, and naked.”
  
  No matter the climate of the majority of luke-warm, worldly churches, until the Lord comes there is still time for personal repentance and a return to God’s ways of righteousness. The door of opportunity for personal revival is still open at this time; until Jesus returns again! Our individual, local church still has the opportunity to be like the church of Philadelphia.
  
  “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev. 3:21

1 Clarence Larkin. The Book of Revelation. Pages 20-27. Philadelphia, PA. Rev. Clarence Larkin Estate. 1919

Today’s Thought: “We don't go to church; we are the church.” — Southcott

Today’s Reading: Revelation 3
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
7 ¶ And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
14 ¶ And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (KJV)